PEAKE, GEORGE - The Encyclopedia of Cleveland History

PEAKE, GEORGE (1722-Sep. 1827)--last name sometimes spelled Peek or
Peak--the first African American to settle permanently in Cleveland and
something of an inventor, developing a new hand mill for grinding grain, was a
native of Maryland and former resident of Pennsylvania. Peake came to Cleveland
with his wife and 2 sons in Apr. 1809. They were apparently well-off financially
when they arrived; Peake's wife reportedly possessed half a bushel of silver
dollars, a remarkable sum at a time when most commercial activity involved
barter and trade. Peake himself was also rather wealthy; on 31 Dec. 1811
(sometimes cited as 1812), he purchased 103 acres of land in Rockport. Peake's
initial wealth was apparently ill-gotten; as a British soldier in the French
& Indian War, he had served under Gen. Jas. Wolfe in the battle of Quebec,
but later was reported to have deserted the army, taking with him the money he
had been given to pay the other soldiers. Peake endeared himself to his
Cleveland neighbors by inventing a new hand mill, which was easier to use than
the crude "stamp mortar and spring pestle" they had adapted from the Indians'
process for grinding grain. Peake's mill used stones that were 18-20" in
diameter and that produced a much better quality of ground meal. Geo. Peake was
reportedly "a highly respected citizen." Peake had 4 children: George, Joseph,
James, and Henry. His burial place is unknown.